Bring water and sugar to a boil, stirring with a wooden spoon until sugar is dissolved. Add cranberries and lower flame to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Cook until most of the berries just pop, about 10 minutes. Allow to cool. Taste for sweetness and add more sugar if necessary (dissolved in 2x the amount of water and brought to a boil briefly.) Can be made ahead of time, cover and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.